- Joined
- Jul 2, 2014
- Messages
- 365
- Reaction score
- 361
Shadowed a surgeon in the OR last night, he had a lot of great information. I sent him a followup letter and this was his response (below). I say this applies to all of us.
_____________________________________________________________________
Dear Premedbrah,
Thanks for coming to the OR last night. I enjoyed having you there. The book that I mentioned is called Triumphs of Experience by George Vaillant. Dr. [Removed] mentioned a book called Happiness is a Serious Problem by Dennis Prager. I suppose that you will have to figure this one out on your own about what it is that you want to accomplish in life and what it is that will eventually make you happy. I can tell you from personal experience as well as observing those around me (many of whom are very successful people on the outside) that happiness does not come from extraordinary material wealth, a long list of accomplishments or success in your job (though these can all contribute to an overall well balanced life). Developing meaningful relationships with close friends, family and your future spouse as well as finding a purpose for what you do in life seems to have a lot more to do with inner happiness. If I were to give you any advice (the same advice I give my kids), it would be the following:
1) Don’t develop any addictions and avoid excessive alcohol consumption. Obviously, in your age group, having more than 1 beer at a party is pretty customary but don’t make it a habit. Bad things happen when people drink to excess. A glass of wine with dinner and a beer at a Baseball game is fine but getting hammered or habitually abusing alcohol will lead steadily to a very unhappy life.
2) Develop a strong relationship with your dad and be a good father to your kids one day.
3) Don’t work or choose a specialty or profession that frequently requires you to be awake from 10 pm to 6 am. Your residency excepted (you have no choice in the matter), it’s not good for your body in the long run.
4) Choose your future wife wisely. It is literally the most important decision that you will make in your life. We don’t have control over a lot of things that happen to us in life but this is one of them that we do. Don’t get married young (before the age of 28 or so) unless you have truly found “the one” and can’t imagine spending your life without that person. Make sure that that person is free of addictions.
5) Don’t pursue wealth to excess. You will never have enough if you do. If you happen to strike it rich, great, but don’t work 100 hours a week to make up for it. As a physician, you will always be ok. If you’re not around for your kids and your future wife, your family will fall apart.
6) Focus on your marriage. Your kids will be happy if they see that you’re happy with your wife. It doesn’t work the other way around.
That’s all for now. Good luck Premedbrah.
__________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Dear Premedbrah,
Thanks for coming to the OR last night. I enjoyed having you there. The book that I mentioned is called Triumphs of Experience by George Vaillant. Dr. [Removed] mentioned a book called Happiness is a Serious Problem by Dennis Prager. I suppose that you will have to figure this one out on your own about what it is that you want to accomplish in life and what it is that will eventually make you happy. I can tell you from personal experience as well as observing those around me (many of whom are very successful people on the outside) that happiness does not come from extraordinary material wealth, a long list of accomplishments or success in your job (though these can all contribute to an overall well balanced life). Developing meaningful relationships with close friends, family and your future spouse as well as finding a purpose for what you do in life seems to have a lot more to do with inner happiness. If I were to give you any advice (the same advice I give my kids), it would be the following:
1) Don’t develop any addictions and avoid excessive alcohol consumption. Obviously, in your age group, having more than 1 beer at a party is pretty customary but don’t make it a habit. Bad things happen when people drink to excess. A glass of wine with dinner and a beer at a Baseball game is fine but getting hammered or habitually abusing alcohol will lead steadily to a very unhappy life.
2) Develop a strong relationship with your dad and be a good father to your kids one day.
3) Don’t work or choose a specialty or profession that frequently requires you to be awake from 10 pm to 6 am. Your residency excepted (you have no choice in the matter), it’s not good for your body in the long run.
4) Choose your future wife wisely. It is literally the most important decision that you will make in your life. We don’t have control over a lot of things that happen to us in life but this is one of them that we do. Don’t get married young (before the age of 28 or so) unless you have truly found “the one” and can’t imagine spending your life without that person. Make sure that that person is free of addictions.
5) Don’t pursue wealth to excess. You will never have enough if you do. If you happen to strike it rich, great, but don’t work 100 hours a week to make up for it. As a physician, you will always be ok. If you’re not around for your kids and your future wife, your family will fall apart.
6) Focus on your marriage. Your kids will be happy if they see that you’re happy with your wife. It doesn’t work the other way around.
That’s all for now. Good luck Premedbrah.
__________________________________________________________________
Last edited: